In the ITER project the world's major fusion programmes – those of Europe, Japan, the USA, the Russian Federation, China, South Korea, and India – are jointly constructing a first experimental reactor. ITER (latin "the way") is intended to show that it is physically and technically possible to gain energy from nuclear fusion. Its objective is to produce a burning, energy-yielding plasma for the first time.

ITER should release 500 megawatts of fusion power – ten times the heating power coupled in. Furthermore, it is to be used for developing and testing essential technical functions of a fusion reactor. These include superconducting magnetic field coils, tritium technology, exhaust of the thermal energy generated, and development of remotely replaceable components; the safety and environmental aspects of fusion will also be treated.

IPP and ITERMax Planck Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) is contributing to the preparation of ITER through the research programme being conducted on its ASDEX Upgrade fusion device. IPP scientists are also maintaining close contact with the ITER group in all physics-oriented questions and are treating special problems for ITER in numerous contract studies.

From 1988 till relocation of the scientists to the Cadarache site IPP hosted the European ITER group at Garching.